"True Confessions of a Closet Catholic"

I think that it was a nice change of pace to get together with my group members outside of our class to discuss a book that we all have read, I think that it made it easier to talk about the issues that we all had noticed in the book. I feel that being able to meet in this type of atmosphere made the feeling between all of the different group members more relaxed and trusting than when we have a limited amount of time while meeting during the class time.
When we were discussing the book we looked at the theme of chocolate being repeated throughout the story in instances when Justine, the main character, was dealing with the most stress or her lowest level of self-esteem. None of us could really come up with a definitive reason for the chocolate; we hypothesized that chocolate, which is such a comfort food for many different people, was used as a way to make the story about a Jewish girl more universal because what female hasn't turned to some type of food for comfort in a time of need? I thought, personally, that it was interesting that while Justine viewed her addiction to chocolate as a way of coping it was also the first thing that she blamed while mentally critiquing herself and her flaws.
The question that I had the hardest time wrapping my head around was the issue of Justine and her growing Jewish identity. For me when I was reading True Confessions of a Closet Catholic I found myself looking more at her misconceptions about a Catholic identity because I am, although non-practicing, a Catholic. When Justine's character was talking about giving up being Jewish for Lent, I found it hilarious because I suppose that I never viewed being Catholic as such a blessing. I did enjoy that although many characters throughout the story tried to tell Justine that if you are not happy with yourself, changing religions is not going to solve the problem, but in the end, figuring out who you are as a person is an journey that can't be decided by someone else, just like a religious choice can't. I found that although I didn't really understand completely the issue of being Jewish and Justine's self image, I could relate to the Catholic references because I have a background in going through a crisis of religion. Ultimately, I feel that these two religions, the one crisis of religion and chocolate all helped to make this a universally connectible story and I enjoyed the chance to talk about it with my group members outside of class.

Becoming...

In reading Becoming Naomi Leon, I tried to keep in mind how Spanish worked within the text as was discussed the Barrera and Quiroa article. For the beginning, the main character's identity was not tied to being a Latina, but instead as a quiet being. I enjoyed how Ryan tracked the development of Naomi with her increased usage and knowledge of Spanish as it was the intent of the story to show identity with self awareness. Naomi discovered her father and his Mexican roots and therefor, the usage of her Spanish mirrors her acclimation into the familial basis of Spanish and Mexican family values.
Throughout Becoming Naomi Leon, Ryan does not, in my reading of the text, make disengaged Spanish language additives, but instead the words work within the text to deepen the story line of Naomi finding her father and herself as she, Owen and her great grandmother travel through Mexico and its family-based culture. As it was discussed in the Barrera and Quiroa article, Ryan was able to integrate Spanish into the English text in a meaningful way that illustrated the cultural ties of the words and as a way of expressing an event that only occurs within a Spanish-based culture.
Ultimately, I feel that Becoming Naomi Leon functioned as a good story of a teenage girl trying to find her place in a word that she feels that looks without seeing and as the tale of a Latina girl connecting with her roots as she finds her father in Mexico and gains an understanding of the cultural importance of family.

A Blind Eye

First I would like to start by saying how disappointed I was for missing the class discussion on Monday about From Charlie's Point of View. I had prepared a question that looked at the family structures within the book and then questioned if this was an attempt to make Charlie's blindness "normal".
The way in which I read the book From Charlie's Point of View was as not an attempt to make readers more aware of blindness but more as an attempt to show "normal" in childhood and the issues that children face. The fact that Bernadette's family is that of a single parent home and Lewis's family is suffering from severe unhappiness, I feel, allows for Charlie's challenges to be read as less of a difference and more as an added level to deal with as a child--I don't feel that this story was an attempt to show the challenges of blindness.
Also, when reading the book and when I did allow myself to look more at the concept of Charlie's blindness as a function in the story I was troubled at how it was framed. In most cases that stood out to me was how depended Charlie was on other people and how he was framed as being helpless to change the dependent relationships. I am not familiar with the struggles of blindness and the levels of assistance that blind people choose to have or require in order to negotiate daily life, but I don't feel that Charlie portrayed a role model from blind children by being depend on others.
Because of my doubts in how Charlie was portrayed as a blind child negotiation daily life, I choose to look at how he was made a more "normal" child by having all the families be as different and, yet, as common at they are. I feel that by have each child character within the story deal with varying issues of family drama--Bernadette's drunk and single mother, Lewis' feuding parent's, and Charlie's arrested father--places the characters on an even foothold and in the end, allows them to come together and help one another when in need. All three are different and "disabled" because of their family structures and in the end, I feel that by viewing the book this way is the only way that it is a successful book. If the book were taken solely as a book about a blind boy it would not be a positive representation, but when the focus is on all three characters working to solve the case and save Mr. Fairmile, the book works as an example of how kids from different circumstance can work together and be friend in the end.
What does everyone else think? What was really discussed in class? How did you all look at the book? I am very interested to see what everyone else thought about From Charlie's Point of View as a book about persons with disabilities since so many want to focus on this topic for the final paper!

Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association

The purpose of this Award is to recognize authors and illustrators who create a representation of Asian/Pacific Americans and heritage in a positive way. The selection criteria is simply that the author or illustrate represents Asian/Pacific heritage in an accurate and positive way. The authors and illustrates do not have to identify themselves as being of Asian/Pacific heritage. The organization itself has been established for nearly thirty years, but the American Librarians Association sponsored award is relatively new in creation. There are three separate awards that are given under this title for illustrations in children's picture books, youth literature and adult books. The Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association has a section dedicated on their site for the members of the selection committee although it is not made completely clear 'who' the members are. The accolades of the members are given as a quick biography and perhaps in defending their position on the committee, but further information isn't really clear. No picture is given as a representation as to who the members are and that is something that our particular group thought it was interesting that the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association would choose not to give you a face for their organization.
Over all, we had a very difficult time finding books in the library that have won this particular award. "Kira-Kira" by Cynthia Kadohata, "A Step from Heaven" by An Na and "Project Mulberry" by Linda Sue Park were either winners or nominees for this award and were the only ones that were locatable.
Our group thought that the criteria for this award sent a positive message in that when considering winners, the committee paid close attention to content verses identity of the authors or illustrators. We all felt that it added an interesting twist to the insider/outsider debate considering that the criteria doesn't specify that the creators have to be of Asian/Pacific heritage or association, but that of the three books that we were able to locate two of the authors were of Asian/Pacific heritage.
We welcome questions or comments on this award and wonder what you think about the criteria saying that the authors and illustrators don't have to be Asian/Pacific American, but those are the people who seem to represent the winners of the award as a majority. Let us know!

Michigan Indian Day

Unfortunately, I was unable to personally attend the Michigan Indian Day hosted at the Kellogg Center on Friday, September 28th. According to today's issue of the State News (Monday, October 1, 2007) the celebration of Native American culture within the state of Michigan was established twenty-three years ago by Governor William Milliken and this years festivities marked the seventh year that Michigan Indian Day was hosted at Michigan State. The article that appears have a link to a video of the event. (http://www.statenews.com/index.php/multimedia/26001)
I think it was interesting that in the video dance was equated to a "sense of self" and in thinking back on The Heart of the Chief and how our discussion fringed on the idea that Chris' sense of self was linked to his Native American culture and think that the video interview with Eva Menefee illustrates that Native Americans feel a connection to their self through their dance and is an interesting layer to add to the consideration of text that represent Native Americans. Also I think that the quest for self expression is one that is universal to humanity and can be a link to discussion all "differences".
Please check out the video and let me know what you think!

Following the Insider, Outsider Debate: Where do I Stand Now.

Last night in class, the discussion was focused on the issue of insider voices versus outsider voices when creating works of "multicultural" literature for children. I thought that it was very interesting when the fish bowl activity was through into the mix because I feel that it got more opinions brought to the conversation that I haven't heard before or thought of when I approached this topic. I thought that it was interesting when the critical reviews of "multicultural" literature from those representing "insiders" looked at works representing those groups. It added another element to the discussion and to my personal stance on the issue. When the conversation turned towards how those representing "insiders" were offended once they found that authors representing a group turned out to be a fraud, I wondered "How much do readers assume that an 'insider' is to be trusted as a representative for a group when they author a book that is presented as authentic experience?"
With this question I feel that my opinion on the insider, outsider debate has changed a bit more. At first I felt that as long as an "outsider" proves their research and involvement with the group they are trying to represent through literature, then I had no problem with an outsider being a source of insider information. After the discussion and taking a closer look at the book by Rinoldi and its critical reviews, I feel that it is of the utmost importance that as a teacher trying to choose literature that not just the popular reviews are considered, but the critical ones as well coming from inside voices are looked at. The information that children are presented with can be formative and the quality of that information should be critically viewed whether or not they come from outside or in.
In conclusion, thank you for a thoughtful discussion because the information presented helped me to both broaden will creating more standards in critiquing the quality of "multicultural" literature.

Insider or Outsider? The Debate

When it comes to choosing books in a classroom library that represent a diverse global society, much attention is paid by some critics on the specifics of the authors location within or outside of the group he or she is writing about. Personally, it doesn't matter to me whether or not the author identifies with the group he or she is writing about just as long as he or she can show the time and research they conducted in order to create a work of fiction that some child in my classroom can identify with. Authenticity is important to me in regards to the time and effort that the author put into the culture or group they are trying to represent; when I am addressing a book that I could possibly include in my library I want to know where the author is coming from, if he or she is not an "insider" then I want to see the information that the author collect in order to create the senses in which he or she did.
During our discussion of The Heart of a Chief the question was raised about the "authenticity" of the author (Joseph Bruchac is Native American). For me the importance lay with an explanation from the author about how he or she came to the conclusions and generalizations that he or she did when sculpting the characters in their works. Joseph Bruchac is not a Penacook Native American, but he is a Native American. In the terms of a generalization (as discussed in Cortes) Bruchac has his main character deal with issues that some Native American children do deal with in a contemporary setting, but at the same time, children who are not Native American are able to identify with some of the issues that the character is working through. On this point, Bruchac is an insider, but not authentic in the sense that he is a Penacook Native American--instead Bruchac researched the tribe or at least made himself familiar and then address human issues.
I feel that it is not important for an other to be an insider or outsider as long as he or she is willing to do everything possible to learn about the overall themes and generalizations (as discussed in Cortes) of a group and is then able to create an identifiable character this is both a positive representation of a group and as close to authentic as is possible without being a member of the topic group.